Patents by Inventor William H. Richardson, Jr.

William H. Richardson, Jr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6299738
    Abstract: Fuel gas production by underwater arcing bubbles up from the vicinity of the arc and is collected by an overlying hood and used or stored for use as a fuel, as in operation of a cutting or welding torch, or in operation of an internal-combustion engine. A reactor or production unit for such fuel gas contains a body of water, which may be open to the ambient atmosphere and be at ambient temperature. The arc is established in a spark gap between carbon electrodes and is facilitated by introduction of successive carbon rods end-on into the spark gap, as by dispensing them successively from a magazine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Inventor: William H. Richardson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6299656
    Abstract: Non-fossil gaseous fuel, evolved in underwater carbon arcing, and characterized by significant heat content and substantial freedom of its combustion effluents from noxious gases and/or particulates, is similarly useful in whole or part as an additive to predominantly hydrocarbon fuels—whether in bulk storage or transport, flowing in a pipeline, fueling a cutting/welding torch, or fueling an internal-combustion engine. Dosing a predominantly hydrocarbon fuel with all or a selected part of such gaseous fuel mixture inhibits leakage and substantially diminishes noxious effluent gases and particulates as characteristic of the combustion of predominantly hydrocarbon fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignees: Arcall, L.L.C.
    Inventors: William H. Richardson, Jr., James A. Wilcox, Douglas A. Palmer
  • Patent number: 6263838
    Abstract: Mechanically or electrically driven vehicles suitable for air, land, or sea transport are operated substantially pollution-free on a fuel gas derived by pyrolysis of carbon and water via underwater arcing between electrodes, optionally on-board. A carbon rod may serve as an electrode or preferably be inserted end-on between a plurality of electrodes, preferably composed of graphite. The fuel is combusted in an engine having mechanical output useful directly as motive power for the vehicle or indirectly to operate a generator of electrical output to motors driving the vehicle motive means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventor: William H. Richardson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6153058
    Abstract: Water-derived fuel gas. An underwater carbon arc operated in the absence of hydrocarbons results in a mixture of gases, being non-self-combustible but combustible as a fuel gas in the presence of air, and comprising gaseous hydrogen in major amount and carbon oxides in minor amount, predominantly carbon monoxide. The fuel gas is adapted along with air to run an internal combustion engine, and along with oxygen to operate a cutting or welding torch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Inventor: William H. Richardson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6113748
    Abstract: Non-fossil fuel without harmful combustion effluents, the only effluents being water and carbon dioxide. The compositions of which the fuel is made are carbon and water only, which are converted in an underwater electric arc into hydrogen and carbon monoxide as the major and predominant minor gaseous molecular constituents. The fuel also contains pseudo-molecular aggregates, as yet unidentified, of higher weight which are seemingly electromagnetically bound, instead of chemically bound, tentatively called magnecules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Inventor: William H. Richardson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5826548
    Abstract: Method of generating electrical power without emission of harmful substances from combustion of a water-derived fuel gas mixture. An underwater carbon arc operated in the absence of hydrocarbons results in a mixture of gases, being non-self-combustible but combustible as a fuel gas in the presence of air, and comprising gaseous hydrogen in major amount and carbon oxides in minor amount, mainly carbon monoxide. The fuel gas is adapted, along with air, to run an internal combustion engine driving an electrical generator and so to provide useful electrical power without the harmful emissions usual in combustion of fossil fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Inventor: William H. Richardson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5792325
    Abstract: Electric arc material-processing system wherein an underwater spark gap is defined in a reactor by spaced graphite electrodes and a conductive carbon rod provided endwise to the gap. The electrodes are rotated by mechanical means, intermittently or continuously. Carbon and water are thereby converted into fuel gas, evolving from the arc, and comprising hydrogen as the major constituent and carbon monoxide as predominant minor constituent. Both the fuel and its combustion products are substantially free from contaminants found customarily in petroleum-based fuels and their combustion products. Surplus heat enables water from any source to be rendered potable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Inventor: William H. Richardson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5692459
    Abstract: Operation of mechanically or electrically driven vehicles, whether suitable for air, land, or sea transport, substantially pollution-free by operating their internal-combustion engines on a leak-resistant fuel gas derived by pyrolysis of carbon and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Inventor: William H. Richardson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5435274
    Abstract: Method of generating electrical power without emission of harmful substances from combustion of a water-derived fuel gas mixture. An underwater carbon arc operated in the absence of hydrocarbons results in a mixture of gases, being non-self-combustible but combustible as a fuel gas in the presence of air, and comprising gaseous hydrogen in major amount and carbon oxides in minor amount, mainly carbon monoxide. The fuel gas is adapted, along with air, to run an internal combustion engine driving an electrical generator and so to provide useful electrical power without the harmful emissions usual in combustion of fossil fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Inventor: William H. Richardson, Jr.